Rome must fall.

Chapter 248 Selecting Crossbowmen

"I do!" Salia answered quite simply.

How could she not want to!

A few years ago, her husband and brothers died in a war with the Segestika people. She took her two children alone and fled to the mountains with the surviving tribesmen. Life was quite difficult, especially for her two children. Often unable to sleep due to hunger, she was so tortured that she even had thoughts of committing suicide...

Fortunately, the Nix people came. When the news that "Nix wanted to hire people to help with the work and would give a lot of food as reward" spread throughout the tribes in the mountains, she was one of the first to have the courage to come to the Nix territory. Ardei people, she then accepted Valerius' employment...

Although this man is older and a bit lazy at work, he is very kind and often allows her to bring food back to the children. After the harvest, he will give her more food... There are many widows from these tribes who have fled into the mountains now. Most people want to marry someone from Knicks who owns fertile land. Such a good opportunity cannot be missed!
Thalia's affirmative answer made Valerius breathe a huge sigh of relief, and then joy filled his chest, and even after he went out, he still walked lightly.

When he arrived at the entrance of the military training ground, the guard was very familiar with him and let him in without asking any questions.

Valerius thought he had arrived very early, but when he arrived at the venue, he found that many people had already arrived. The instructor from the Ministry of War kept shouting inside: "Everyone, line up! If you don't line up, you won't be tested!..."

Valerius consciously lined up in the group on the far side. Taking a closer look, he found that there were familiar people in front and behind him.

"Pro, why are you here?!" Valerius was very surprised, because the old man who was about the same age as him in the queue behind him had an unusual identity. He was one of the first slaves to join the rebel army and had been following him all the time. Volenus worked hard, and it is said that if it were not for his illiteracy, he would probably have become the adjutant of the Ministry of Agriculture. Moreover, at this harvest celebration meeting, he became one of the three tribesmen who received tribal awards for their largest grain production. First, everyone is very convinced of him. After all, he has taught many tribesmen how to farm better.

"I'm not here to apply for crossbows. I'm here to test whether I can use this new weapon invented by the leader. If I can, when our tribe's troop resources are insufficient in the future, we old guys can also go into battle to kill the enemy and defend ourselves. Home!" Puro said calmly.

Today, he is no longer the hunky and timid look he was when he first joined the rebel army. After more than three years of combat experience, coupled with adequate food, he has fewer wrinkles on his face and a stronger body. He looks He seemed to be several years younger and looked calm and majestic.

"Uncle Pro, what do you mean by this, are we going to fight again?!" A young man standing in front of Valerius turned around and asked excitedly.

This man's name is Leontias. He joined the team after the rebel army entered the Apulian region. He was injured in the Battle of the Vomanus River. After recovering from the injury, he returned to the team and ended up fighting in the same camp. Gostica's army was injured again during the battle. Although he was able to recover after careful treatment by the medical camp, his body could no longer withstand the fierce battle and he had to withdraw from the army and became a young tribesman unable to serve. He has been He felt sorry for this, but now he seemed to have a chance to make up for his regrets, so he came early.

"I haven't heard any news of a war coming from above, but since we have settled here, we don't have to fight anymore!" Puo said calmly.

"Uncle, you are right, we have no shortage of battles to fight." Leontias agreed, and then said: "I heard that this time the First Legion helped our allies fight in the south and won a great victory. I'm afraid there will be no shortage of battles." It’s really enviable that this young soldier will be promoted!”

"You don't have to envy them. If you pass the test and become a crossbowman later, you can continue to kill enemies and make meritorious deeds like them!" Valerius patted him on the shoulder and encouraged: "Of course, if I also pass the test , we can fight side by side from now on!"

"Well, let's work hard together!" Leontias nodded vigorously.

Many ethnic people have entered the training ground of the Ministry of War, but almost all of them are middle-aged and elderly people or young adults who have been injured or disabled. There are even a few strong women, but there are no young ethnic people with sound limbs and good health, because They are already soldiers of various legions or reserves.

Most of the ethnic people present were originally working as odd jobs in the supply camps. After the promulgation of the twenty-nobility system, they were full of envy because they were unable to go into battle to kill the enemy and perform meritorious deeds. Now, the notice to recruit crossbowmen has relaxed restrictions, giving them the opportunity, so they came There are quite a few people who signed up for the test, but many people are uneasy because they don't understand the new weapon crossbow, so scenes of encouragement and encouragement can be seen everywhere.

"It's your turn!" The instructor waved to Leontias.

Leontias cheered up and strode to the wooden table, on which was placed the new weapon everyone was talking about - the crossbow.

As he was looking at it carefully, the instructor next to him said, "Do you know how to use it?"

"I just watched the people in front of me use it, and I have a general idea."

"Then let's get started."

Leontias took a deep breath, picked up the handle of the crossbow with his right hand, put the tail end against his abdomen, then grabbed the bowstring with both hands, and pulled it back hard. It was a bit laborious, but he had always insisted on training when he was in the legion. After recovering from his injury, he plowed the fields every day. There was no shortage of strength, and he stringed the bow steadily.

At this time, the instructor came over and gave instructions: "Now hold the crossbow with both hands at shoulder level, close your left eye, trace the iron piece with your right eye, and then aim at the target in front... Okay, just like this, hold on, hold on a little longer... hold on a little longer... now pull the trigger."

Leontias watched the bowstring bounce back to its original position and asked doubtfully: "Aren't you going to put a crossbow arrow in it?"

Yes, he knew something about this new weapon, because one of his neighbors was a craftsman in an iron workshop, and he went to learn about it from him.

"When you pass the test and become a crossbowman, you will be given crossbow arrows. Now, follow the steps just now and do it three more times."

Leontias did as he was told, and after completing it three times, he looked as normal, and his injured lungs did not cough violently. After all, this was not a sustained, high-intensity confrontation, it was just a little effort when pulling the strings.

The instructor observed his face and then took him to the registration office next to him. The soldier sitting at the wooden table asked: "What's your name?"

"Leontias."

"how old?"

"Twenty-eight years old."

"Where are you from?"

"The Puccetti people of the Apulian region of Italy."

"Speak Illyrian?"

"Only a little."

"Have you ever been a soldier before?"

"I used to be in our first legion and served as captain of ten, but then I was injured..."

……

The soldier asked and took notes seriously. Finally, he raised his head and looked at the instructor: "That's it."

"Did I pass?" Leontias asked excitedly.

"You only passed half of it. There is still one more test." The instructor said, waving to the soldiers maintaining order on the sidelines.

"You take him over there for the next test." The instructor said to the soldier.

"Come with me."

Leontias glanced at the other four people next to him who were loading their crossbows, then looked back at Valerius and Puro, and said with a smile: "Two uncles, don't worry, this test is very simple, you can do it Passed easily." After saying that, he waved his fist to show encouragement.

Leontias followed the soldiers to the other side of the training ground. Some people had gathered here, but the instructors here did not start the test immediately. After waiting for a while, several more tribesmen who passed the first round of tests came. people, including Plo and Valerius.

"Now you run with me. If I don't stop, you can't stop either. If there is anyone who can't run, you can voluntarily quit the team!..." The instructor finished speaking loudly and began to jog forward.

Leontias almost laughed out loud when he saw this. This was too easy.

So, under the supervision of more than 10 soldiers standing on both sides, everyone followed the instructor and jogged forward for about meters. The instructor turned back, and they also turned back...

No matter how many times he went back and forth, Leontias began to feel a little uncomfortable in his left lung, but he still persisted.

When he finally couldn't help but want to cough, the instructor's loud voice came from the front: "Okay, the test is over. Everyone who is still in the field has passed the test!"

Everyone cheered in unison, Leontias did not follow the shout, he was afraid that he would not be able to help coughing, but he saw Valerius and Puro among the cheering tribesmen.

When everyone calmed down, the instructor said to the frustrated ethnic people on the sidelines: "You don't have to be sad. You can strengthen your running training when you go back. From now on, you can come here to apply for a test at the beginning of every month. After passing the test, you will still be able to serve as a crossbow soldier." Opportunity. Those of you who pass the test, follow me to register."

This time the registration was more formal. Leontias and the others came to the Ministry of War - the Office of the Ministry of Military Affairs. The staff of the Ministry of Military Affairs recorded everyone's situation with the newly ordered crossbowmen registration book, and at the same time warned them that in the next half During the three-month off-farm period, I had to come here to report and train every day.

Valerius and Leontias came out of the Ministry of War and saw Prolo still waiting for them outside: "How is it?"

"Everything went well. This kid and I can now resume military service!" Valerius patted Leontias on the shoulder with some excitement.

"That's great!" Puro said happily: "We haven't seen each other for several months. I'll go to my house tonight and I'll ask my old lady to make something good. Let's celebrate!"

(End of this chapter)